There are only two ways this sign can be pronounced: “doe doe,” as in the dodo bird (at best), or “doo doo.” As in, doo doo.
Reminds me of a sign at World of Nuts, an Upper West Side store I used to go to for Tasti-d-Lite and bulk candy after the gym to undo all the calories I’d burned. One of their bargain bins, full of milk chocolate Santas and bells, was labeled “ASS CHOCOLATES.”
Of course, the sticker on a candy bin you can always change — if a customer has the heart to tell you that no one wants to buy ass chocolates.
But a store name and signage? That’s not so easy.
Now, I’m guessing that the proprietors of Do Do aren’t from these parts. But don’t go thinking, “I’m good at English. That wouldn’t happen to me.”
I don’t care if you’re Strunk and White.
You should never go naming your store, your product, your company, even your teddy bear without running it past a few people.
I’m not saying to take a poll of all your friends – then you’ll never have a name.
If I’d asked everyone what they thought of “Talking Shrimp,” I’m sure some would have said “cute,” some would have said, “meh” and suggested I stick with Laura Belgray, Inc. (they might have been right) and some relative would have insisted I change it to “Copy Crustacean” because alliteration is always punchy.
But I did make sure it didn’t mean “poop” before paying a lawyer to register it as a corporation.
Hmm….Looking now at the color of that Do Do sign, maybe the meaning was intentional.
UPDATE: It turns out that “do-do” is a term of endearment in the South and for puppies in France. I haven’t determined whether it’s pronounced “doe doe” or “doo doo,” but in either case that goes to my point: you can’t just assume your cute name will translate in a different region. There’s always a chance it’ll mean something else.
I think now to a neighborhood store of my childhood: the G Spot Deli, on Amsterdam and 86th. They finally woke up one day but were too cheap to replace the sign. So they took out the middle part and remained The Deli for years and years. Not regional, just dumb. But I forgot about it when I wrote this.
Do do you know the notes of the scale? Do- ray- me- fa- so etc?
Begins and ends with do, ergo do-do. Laura, your widening perspective has now widened my horizons.
Love,
Dad
Hmm, I only saw the doo doo after you mentioned the colour of the sign. I originally read it as dodo, like the bird, and was half expecting to see a going out of business sign in the window.
You’ll see that sign soon. No doubt.
What was the name of the proprietor of World of Nuts? I kind of remember through the fog that we called that store by his name.
Maybe ‘do do’ repels everyone but the people who are suited to partake in whatever this place has to offer. In that case, it would be good marketing, no? Now I have no idea if their fashion accessories cater to French dog lovers,or Southerners, but I just felt the need to play devil’s advocate. 🙂
Yes. It’s the so-called “velvet rope.” Except that ain’t velvet.
even if they moved the last ‘o’ to the third letter, it’s still has a ‘crappy’ theme..
the do do store is a conversation starter, nonetheless!
At least it’s a cohesive brand. Crappy name, crappy merchandise.
I always loved the story of the car from Ford called NOVA. The couldn’t figure out why sales were so bad in Mexico and other Spanish speaking countries. Duh! Who would by a car that is called “Doesn’t GO”
Only I would, because I’m that bad a driver.
“Get gas, eat here!” I love it!
Now I can see where you get your knack for spotting do do.
.-= Kelly Parkinson´s last blog ..The story of my worst client ever =-.
Yes, absolutely a family trait. I come from a long line of do do spotters.
Remember the butcher store around the corner that advertised “brains only on Thursdays”? Or the watch store on Lex. that said, “Cuckoo clocks psychoanalyzed.” Then there are the unintentional ones — the 42nd St. gas station which used to be attached to a diner: “Get gas, eat here.” I always thought it was funny that the erudite Shakespeare book store sold “Books, Paperbacks, Children.” But “DO DO” is the best — or the worst.
Thanks for the funnies.
I didn’t know about “Get gas, eat here.” That’s excellent!
Laura
You never fail to deliver the goods! Another great post and once again the humor is right there. Thanks for brightening my day.
Paul
Well, thank you Mr. Carter.
Do you remember the story about how Chevrolet, back in the 70s or so, introduced their popular car, the Nova, to Latin America?
Sales died on the spot because in Spanish, Nova turns out to be “No Go.” Who wants to buy a car called “No Go”?
I’ve also seen some dreadful URLs, where a nice business name doesn’t work out so well when bumped all together in one word. I don’t want to embarrass them in public, but there is a law firm I know that tried to abbreviate their (ridiculously) long name to fit into a nice, tidy URL. It turned out to be (name of body part)LAW.com. Yikes!
Thanks for the entertainment and enlightenment!
I do remember that Chevy story. I thought of it when I heard about Toyota and their ill-chosen slogan (in light of the bad brakes.) I can’t figure out the URL puzzle. Curious.
I love the G spot deli story, and their solution to their problem! Sadly enough, it’s probably because that sounds like the kind of thing I would do to fix it. Ha.
I’ve also noticed the increase in those cheapy accessory stores, and some of them are open like one weekend a month. It’s as if they think the anticipation of waiting is going to make me come in and splurge.
In my neighborhood, it’s the fake purses which frankly, give me the heebiey jeebies.
I might buy some Ass Chocolates though. Just sayin’.
Thanks for a good smile:)
Debbie
The fake purses are everywhere. No neighborhood is safe!